Method of forming a non-volatile memory device having floating trap type memory cell

ABSTRACT

A non-volatile memory device includes a cell region having a memory gate pattern with a charge storage layer, and a peripheral region having a high-voltage-type gate pattern, a low-voltage-type gate pattern, and a resistor pattern. To fabricate the above memory device, a device isolation layer is formed in a substrate. Gate insulating layers having difference thickness are formed in low-and high-voltage regions of the peripheral region, respectively. A first conductive layer is formed over substantially the entire surface of a gate insulating layer in the peripheral region. A triple layer including a tunneling insulating layer, a charge storage layer, and a blocking insulating layer and a second conductive layer are sequentially formed over substantially the entire surface of the substrate including the first conductive layer.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of prior application Ser. No. 10/215,504 filed Aug. 9, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,781,193, the contents of which are herein incorporated by this reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a non-volatile semiconductor memory device and a method of forming the same. More specifically, the invention is directed to a semiconductor memory device having a floating trap-type memory cell and a method of forming the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A non-volatile memory device such as a flash memory device continuously holds data until it is erased. Therefore, unlike a volatile memory device such as a normal DRAM, the non-volatile memory device does not require refresh-related circuitry and can save power consumption.

However, the non-volatile memory device needs a high voltage for writing/erasing data and an extra storage for holding data. This complicates the structure and forming processes. For example, the non-volatile memory device may additionally need a charge storage for reliably preserving data and a voltage drop resistor for driving high and low voltage areas from a single power source.

Based upon a structure, memory cells of the non-volatile memory device type are classified into a floating gate type memory cell and a floating trap-type memory cell. In the floating trap-type memory cell, programming can be carried out by storing a charge in a trap formed in a non-conducive charge storage layer between a gate electrode and a semiconductor substrate. To form a floating trap, a tunneling insulating layer and a blocking insulating layer are formed on/beneath a silicon nitride layer acting as a charge storage layer.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a typical SONOS (silicon oxide nitride oxide semiconductor) structure of the floating trap-type memory device. A memory cell has a gate pattern and impurity diffusion layers. A gate pattern is formed by sequentially stacking a tunneling insulating layer 20, a charge storage layer 22, a blocking insulating layer 24, and a gate electrode 27 on an active region of a semiconductor substrate 10. An impurity diffusion layer 28 is formed in an active region on both sides of the gate pattern. Typically, the tunneling insulating layer 20 is made of thermal oxide and the charge storage layer 22 is made of silicon nitride.

In a non-volatile semiconductor memory device having a floating gate, a gate insulating layer of a memory cell conventionally has the same thickness as a gate insulating layer for forming a transistor of a low-voltage area in a peripheral circuit region. However, a tunneling insulating layer of the floating trap-type memory cell conventionally is different, in suitable thickness, from a gate insulating layer for forming a transistor of a lower voltage area in a peripheral circuit region. Therefore, the process for fabricating a non-volatile semiconductor device having the floating trap-type memory cell is more complex than the process for fabricating a non-volatile semiconductor device having the floating gate-type memory cell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention alleviates the complexity of the process for fabricating a non-volatile semiconductor memory device having a floating trap-type memory cell.

Therefore, the present invention provides a non-volatile semiconductor memory device having a floating trap-type memory cell that achieves process simplification and enhanced reliability, and a method of fabricating the same.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a non-volatile semiconductor memory device with improved efficiency in conveying a drive signal, and a method of fabricating the same.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprises a cell gate pattern of a cell array region, a high-voltage-type gate pattern of a peripheral high-voltage region, and a low-voltage-type gate pattern of a peripheral low voltage region on a semiconductor substrate. The high-voltage type gate pattern has a gate insulating layer for a high voltage, a first conductive layer, a triple layer, and a second conductive layer. The cell gate pattern has only the triple layer and the second conductive layer. The triple layer includes a tunneling insulating layer, a charge storage layer, and a blocking insulating layer. The low-voltage-type gate pattern has a gate insulating layer for a low voltage, the first conductive layer, the triple layer, and the second conductive layer.

The non-volatile memory device further comprises a line-type resistor pattern in a resist region. The resistor pattern has at least the first conductive layer formed on a gate insulating layer for electrical isolation from the substrate. The first conductive layer is made of doping-controlled polysilicon, acting as a resist layer. The insulating layer is a trench-type device isolation layer or an insulating layer for a high voltage. The resistor pattern has a contact region including the gate insulating layer for a high voltage and the first conductive layer and a line region including the gate insulating layer for a high voltage, the first conductive layer, the triple layer, and the second conductive layer. A contact formed over the resistor pattern is not electrically connected to the second conductive layer in the contact region. The cell gate pattern, the high-voltage-type gate pattern, and the low-voltage-type gate pattern have an insulating spacer on their sidewalls.

The second conductive layer is a dual layer comprising a lower layer of polysilicon and an upper layer of metal silicide.

A region of each of the gate pattern and the resistor pattern may have a contact for coupling to an upper circuit. That is, a contact plug may be made over a part of the pattern. When the second conductive layer and the triple layer are removed in a part of the contact region in the respective low-and high-voltage-type gate patterns, a butting contact is formed to concurrently connect to the first and second conductive layers in the contact region. If the second conductive layer and the triple layer are removed in at least the contact region of the resistor pattern and a contact plug is formed, only the first conductive layer of the line type resistor pattern is used as a resist layer.

Further, a top surface level of the triple layer is lower than a top surface level of a trench type device isolation layer formed at the substrate in the cell gate pattern. A bottom surface level of the triple layer is higher than a top surface level of the trench type device isolation layer in peripheral high-and low-voltage-type device regions. A top surface level of the lower conductive layer of the gate pattern is lower than a top surface level of the device isolation layer in a region where the gate pattern for a memory component, the high-voltage-type gate pattern, and the low-voltage-type gate pattern are formed.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a non-volatile memory device is similar to the non-volatile memory device of the first embodiment. However, a triple layer is not formed and a simple contact is formed instead of a butting contact. More specifically, a high-voltage-type gate pattern has a gate insulating layer for a high voltage, a first conductive layer, and a high-conductivity layer. A cell gate pattern has a triple layer, a second conductive layer, and the high-conductivity layer, the triple layer including a tunneling insulating layer, a charge storage layer, and a blocking insulating layer. A low-voltage-type gate pattern has a gate insulating layer for a low voltage, the first conductive layer, and the high-conductivity layer. The high-conductivity layer is a metal-containing single layer or a dual layer include a lower layer of polysilicon and an upper layer of metal.

In this non-volatile semiconductor memory device, a line-type resistor pattern is formed. The resistor pattern of this embodiment is identical to that of the first embodiment. Each of the gate patterns and the resistor pattern may have a contact coupling to an upper circuit. However, in a layer structure of the resistor pattern, a contact forming region has a resist layer that is separated from the substrate by an insulating layer. The resistor layer is formed of a first conductive layer. If the high-conductivity layer is formed of a dual layer having a lower layer of polysilicon and an upper layer of metal silicide, the resistor layer mey be formed of a combination layer of the first conductive layer and the polyislicon layer of the high-conductivity layer. The line region of the resistor pattern, except the contact region, has the same structure as the contact region or a structure where the triple layer, the second conductive layer, and the low resist conductive layer are sequentially stacked on the resist layer.

Further, a top surface level of the triple layer is lower than a top surface level of the trench type device isolation layer formed at the substrate in the cell array region. A top surface level of the first conductive layer is higher than a top surface level of the trench type device isolation layer in the peripheral high-and low-voltage type regions. In the cell array region, a top surface level of the trench type device isolation layer formed on the substrate is higher than a top surface level of the second conductive layer and is lower than a top surface level of the polysilicon layer of the high-conductivity layer. In the peripheral high- and low-voltage type regions, a top surface level of the trench-type device isolation layer is higher than a top surface level of the first conductive layer and is lower than a top surface level of the polysilicon layer of the high-conductivity layer.

In this embodiment, the tunneling insulating layer of the triple layer is conventionally made of thin silicon thermal oxide. The charge storage layer and the blocking insulating layer thereof are conventionally made of silicon nitride and silicon oxide respectively by a CVD technique. the gate patterns have an insulating spacer that is typically made of silicon nitride on their sidewall.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a method of fabricating a non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprises forming a device isolation layer in a substrate, forming a low-voltage gate insulating layer in at least a peripheral low-voltage region of the substrate, and forming a high-voltage gate insulating layer in at least a peripheral high voltage region of the substrate, stacking a first conductive layer over substrate performing a patterning process to remove the first conductive layer in a cell array region and to expose the substrate, and sequentially forming a triple layer and a second conductive layer over substantially the entire surface of the exposed substrate in the cell array region. The triple layer includes a tunneling insulating layer, a charge storage layer, and a blocking insulating layer.

In the cell array region, the tunneling insulating layer, the peripheral low-voltage gate insulating layer, and the peripheral high-voltage gate insulating layer may be differently formed. The structure of the gate pattern may be different from that of the peripheral high- and low-voltage-type gate patterns.

The present invention can be applied to cases wherein a device isolation layer is first formed as well as cases wherein one layer of the gate pattern is formed and then a trench-type device isolation layer is formed. Further, the present invention can be applied to cases wherein peripheral low-and high-voltage-type gate patterns having an insulating layer therein are formed over a butting contact, as well as cases wherein a simple contact connected to an uppermost layer is formed without the insulating layer. The present invention can be in cases wherein a resist layer of a resistor pattern is formed over a device isolation layer, as well as cases wherein the resist layer thereof is formed over an insulating layer such as a high-voltage gate insulating layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional structure of a floating trap type unit component.

FIG. 2 through FIG. 8 are cross-sectional views of one example in which a device isolation layer is formed, and then a gate pattern is formed with a butting contact formed in a peripheral part, according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 through FIG. 11 are cross-sectional views taken along a gate pattern and a resistor pattern under a state of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 through FIG. 17 are processing cross-sectional views of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 through FIG. 20 are cross-sectional views each being taken along patterns of FIG. 17.

FIG. 21 through FIG. 25 are processing cross-sectional views of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 through FIG. 32 are processing cross-sectional views of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 through FIG. 37 are processing cross-sectional views of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 through FIG. 44 are processing cross-sectional views of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view taken along a resistor pattern shown in FIG. 44.

FIG. 46 through FIG. 53 are processing cross-sectional views of a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 54 through FIG. 58 are processing cross-sectional views of an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 59 through FIG. 62 are processing cross-sectional views of a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that process, electrical or mechanical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Embodiment 1

Referring to FIG. 2, the device isolation is made on a silicon substrate 10. Four left-to-right regions represent a resistor region, a peripheral high voltage region, a peripheral low voltage region, and a cell array region, in that order This regional division is identical throughout the drawings. Although a trench-type device isolation layer 11 is illustrated in FIG. 2, a LOCOS-type device isolation layer may be formed. In case of a shallow trench isolation (STI) technique in used, a top surface of a device isolation layer is identical to or higher than the substrate 10 in elevation. Alternatively, the device isolation layer may be formed on an entire surface of the resist region. In this case, a resistor pattern is formed on the device isolation layer.

Referring to FIG. 3, a thick gate insulating layer 13 for forming a high-voltage device is formed on a substrate 10 where the device isolation layer 11 is formed. By patterning the gate insulating layer 13, thick gate insulating layers in the peripheral low-voltage region and the cell array region are removed and the substrate 10 is exposed. An etch-mask pattern used in the patterning is removed and thermal oxidation is used to form a thin gate insulating layer 15 on a surface of the exposed substrate 10. The thick gate insulating layer 13 still remains in the resist region.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a first polysilicon layer 17 is formed on an entire surface of a substrate where the thick gate insulating layer 13 and the thin gate insulating layer 15 are formed. A doping concentration of the first polysilicon layer 17 is controlled to accommodate a later-formed resistor. For a patterning process, an etch-mask pattern (not shown) is formed on the first polysilicon layer 17 to expose the cell array region. An etching process is then performed to remove the first polysilicon layer 17 and the thin gate insulating layer 15. The mask pattern is also removed.

Referring to FIG. 5, thermal oxidation is performed in the cell array region. Using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique, a silicon nitride layer and a silicon oxide layer are sequentially stacked to form an ONO (oxide-nitride-oxide) triple layer 19 on a substrate in the cell array region and on the first polysilicon layer in other regions. A second polysilicon layer 21 is formed on the ONO triple layer 19. A metal layer is formed on the second polysilicon layer and then is subjected to annealing to form the metal silicide layer. Alternatively, the metal silicide layer 23 is formed using a CVD technique.

Referring to FIG. 6, gate patterns 301, 401, and 501 are formed in each substrate region by the patterning. As a result of the already-performed process, the structure of the gate pattern may be different in each region. That is, a gate pattern 301 of the cell array region comprises a triple layer 19 a, a second polysilicon layer 21 a, and a metal silicide layer 23 a; a low-voltage-type gate pattern 401 of the peripheral device region comprises a gate insulating layer 15 b, a first polysilicon layer 17 b, a triple layer 19 b, a second polysilicon layer 21 b, and a metal silicide layer 23 b; and a high-voltage-type gate pattern 501 of the peripheral device region comprises a gate insulating layer 13 c, a first polysilicon layer 17 c, a triple layer 19 c, a second polysilicon layer 21 c, and a metal silicide layer 23 c. The gate insulating layers 15 b and 13 c are different in thickness. A resistor pattern 601 of the resist region has the same structure as the high-voltage-type gate pattern 501. Following formation of the gate patterns 301, 401, and 501 and the resistor pattern 601, an insulating spacer 33 is formed on a sidewall of the respective patterns by stacking and anisotropically etching a spacer insulating layer.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the patterns 401, 501, and 601 are partially etched. In a contact region 61 of the resistor pattern 601, a triple layer 19 c, a second polysilicon layer 21 c, and a metal silicide layer 23 c are removed to expose a first polysilicon layer 17 d. Alternatively, in all regions (i.e., the contact region 61 and a line region 63) of the resistor pattern 601, the triple layer 19 c, the second polysilicon layer 21 c, and the metal silicide layer 23 c are etched. In partial contact regions 51 and 41 of the low-and high-voltage-type gate patterns 501 and 401, the triple layers 19 b and 19 c, the second polysilicon layers 21 b and 21 c, and the metal silicide layers 23 b and 23 c are removed to expose the first polysilicon layers 17 b and 17 c.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, an interlayer insulating layer 351 is stacked on a substrate including the partially etched gate pattern and the resistor pattern. The interlayer insulating layer 351 is patterned to form a contact hole. In the contact region 61 with-in the resist region, the first polysilicon layer 17 d is exposed to a bottom surface of the contact hole. In the contact region 41 and 51 of the peripheral gate pattern, the first polysilicon layers 17 b and 17 and the metal silicide layers 23 b and 23 c are partially exposed. The CVD technique is used to fill the contact hole with tungsten. Although not shown in the figures, thin barrier metal is conventionally stacked on an entire surface of the substrate before stacking the tungsten. The tungsten layer except plugs 37 a, 37 b, 37 c, and 37 d filling the contact holes is removed from the substrate by means of a tungsten CMP technique to achieve the contact plug isolation. In subsequent steps, an upper circuit will be formed by stacking and patterning a conductive layer.

FIG. 9 through FIG. 11 are cross-sectional views taken along a gate pattern plane and a resistor pattern plane under the state of FIG. 8, wherein each of the layers constituting the gate pattern is formed after formation of a shallow trench isolation layer.

Referring to FIG. 9, a resistor pattern is isolated from a substrate 10 by a thick gate insulating layer 13 d formed on the substrate 10. If a first polysilicon layer 17 d acts as a resistor layer, a resistance of the resistor may be decided in proportion to a distance from a contact plug 37 d. In a contact region 61, a triple layer 19 d, a second polysilicon layer 21 d, and a metal silicide layer 23 d are removed so that a contact plug 37 d can directly contact the resistor layer. In a line region 63, the second polysilicon layer 21 d and the metal silicide layer 23 d remain but are isolated from the first polysilicon layer 17 d by the triple layer 19 d and separated from the contact plug 37 d. For that reason, the resistance is not influenced.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the gate pattern in the peripheral low voltage region. A top surface of a thin gate insulating layer 15 b may be lower than top surfaces of device isolation layers 11 in elevation. On the other hand, other layers 17 b, 19 b, 21 b, and 23 b constituting the gate pattern are higher than the top surfaces of the device isolation layers 11 in level, and are horizontally extended. Except for a thickness difference between gate insulating layers, a cross section of the peripheral high-voltage region is identical to that of the peripheral low-voltage region.

Referring to FIG. 11, in an active region on the cell array region, an ONO triple layer 19 a may be lower than a top surface of a device isolation layer 11 in elevation. On the other hand, a top surface of a second polysilicon layer 21 a and a metal silicide layer 23 a constituting a gate pattern are higher than the top surface of the device isolation layer in elevation, and are horizontally extended.

Embodiment 2

The second embodiment is an example in which a structure constituting a gate pattern is partially formed, and then a trench-type device isolation layer is formed.

Referring to FIG. 12, a thick gate insulating layer 13 for forming a high-voltage device is formed on a substrate 10. By patterning the gate insulating layer 13, a thick gate insulating layer in a peripheral low-voltage region and a cell array region is removed, and the substrate is exposed. An etch-mask pattern (not shown) used in the patterning is removed, and then is subjected to thermal oxidation to form a thin gate insulating layer 15 on a surface of the exposed substrate 10. In this embodiment or others, the formation order of these gate insulating layers 13 and 15 may be changed.

Referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, a first polysilicon layer 17 is formed over substantially the entire surface of a substrate 10 where the thick gate insulating layer 13 and the thin gate insulating layer 15 are formed. A doping concentration of the first polysilicon layer 17 is controlled to accommodate a particular value of a later-form-ed resister. For patterning, an etch mask pattern (not shown) is formed on the first polysilicon layer 17 to expose the cell array region. An etching process is then performed to remove the first polysilicon layer 17 and the thin gate insulating layer 15.

Referring to FIG. 14, an ONO triple layer 19 is formed on the exposed substrate 10 of the cell array region and on first polysilicon layers 17 of the other regions. A second polysilicon layer 21 is formed on the triple layer 19.

Referring to FIG. 15, a device isolation layer 111 is formed on the substrate where the second polysilicon layer 21 is formed. The device isolation layer 111 is formed using a self-aligned shallow trench isolation (SASTI) technique that is well known to a person skilled in the art. A mask pattern 113 for etching a trench is formed on the substrate where the second polysilicon layer 21 is formed. The mask pattern 113 is made of silicon nitride. The layers 21, 19, 17, 13, and 15 and the substrate 10 are etched to form a trench in the substrate 10. The trench is filled with an insulator such as CVD oxide, and a CMP process is carried out to expose the mask pattern 113. In a subsequent process, the mask pattern 113 is isotropically etched to make the device isolation layer 111 remain. Further, a trench inner wall may be annealed or a silicon nitride liner may be formed during formation of the device isolation layer.

Referring to FIG. 16, a third polysilicon layer and a metal silicide layer are sequentially formed over substantially the entire surface of the substrate. The substrate is patterned to form gate patterns 302, 402, and 502 and a resistor pattern 602 in each region. An insulating spacer 33 is formed on a sidewall of each pattern. An unprotected device isolation layer 111 is etched, so that an elevation of its top surface is lowered to be similar to that of the substrate.

Referring to FIG. 17, process steps identical to those of embodiment 1 in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are performed. That is, patterns are partially etched, an interlayer insulating layer 352 is stacked, and contact plugs 37 a, 37 b, 37 c, and 37 d are formed. Also, a triple layer and its upper layers are removed in a contact region 61 of a resistor pattern and are partially removed in contact regions 41 and 51 of high-and low-voltage-type gate pattern in the peripheral device region.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 17, a contact plug 37 d is connected to only a first polysilicon layer used as a resistor layer in the contact region of the resistor pattern. A SONOS-type flash device structure is made, in which butting contacts 37 c and 37 b are formed on the high-and low-voltage-type gate patterns.

FIG. 18 through FIG. 20 are cross-sectional views taken along the planes of patterns 602, 402, and 302 depicted in FIG. 17.

In FIG. 18, compared with the FIG. 9 of the first embodiment, a third polysilicon layer 31 d is formed between a second polysilicon layer 21 d and a metal silicide layer 23 d. Substantially, because a resistor layer of a resistor pattern is a first polysilicon layer 17 d, a resistor difference does not exist between the first and second embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, compared with FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 of the first embodiment, top surfaces of second polysilicon layers 21 a and 21 b formed prior to formation of a device isolation layer 111 are lower than the device isolation layer in elevation. Lower conductive layers of a second conductive layer are made of polysilicon. Therefore, assuming that second and third polysilicon layers 21 a and 31 a are regarded as one polysilicon layer, a cell array region shown in FIG. 20 has the same structure as that of the first embodiment (see FIG. 11).

Embodiment 3

In this embodiment, compared with the first and second embodiments, no triple layer acting as an insulating layer exists between conductive layers in structures of high- and low-voltage-type gate patterns in the peripheral device region. Thus, a contact coupled to a gate pattern of a later-formed peripheral device need not be a butting contact.

The same steps as FIG. 2 through FIG. 4 of the first embodiment are carried out. Then, referring to FIG. 21, an ONO triple layer 19 is formed on an exposed substrate 10 of a cell array region and on the first polysilicon layers of the other regions. A second polysilicon layer 21 is formed on the ONO triple layer 19. An etch mask pattern 115 is then formed to separate a resist region from the cell array region.

Referring to FIG. 22, the second polysilicon layer 21 and the third triple layer 19 are removed by etching. The etch mask pattern 115 then is removed. A metal silicide layer 23 is stacked over substantially the entire surface of the substrate 10. Accordingly, a metal silicide layer is disposed on a first polysilicon layer in later-formed peripheral high-and low-voltage-type devices.

Referring to FIG. 23, substantially the entire surface of the substrate 10 is patterned to form gate patterns 303, 403, and 503 and a resistor pattern 603 in the respective regions. In an unpatterned region, the substrate 10 is exposed. An insulating spacer 33 is formed on the sidewalls of the gate patterns 303, 403, and 503 and on the sidewalls of the resistor pattern 603.

Referring to FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, a photoresistor pattern (not shown) is formed for exposing a contact region 61 of a resistor pattern. An etching process is then performed to sequentially remove a metal silicide layer 23 d, a second polysilicon layer 21 d, and a triple layer 19 d. An insulating spacer 33, formed on a sidewall of a resistor pattern of the contact region 61, is also etched to lower a top surface thereof. Although not shown in the drawings, all regions of a resistor pattern including a line region 63 may be etched.

Referring to FIG. 23 and FIG. 25, an interlayer insulating layer 353 is formed over the gate pattern and the resistor pattern. Conventionally, a step of planarizing the interlayer insulating layer 353 is also performed. The inter layer insulating layer 353 is patterned to expose metal silicide layers 23 a, 23 b, 23 c, and 23 d in a part of each gate pattern. A contact hole is formed in a contact region of a resistor pattern to expose a first polysilicon layer. A conductive layer made of tungsten or the like is stacked to fill the contact hole. A CMP process is carried out to expose the interlayer insulating layer 353. Contact plugs 37 a, 37 b, 37 c, and 37 d are formed in the contact hole.

In a subsequent process, by stacking and patterning a conductive layer on an interlayer insulating layer where a contact plug is formed, an upper interconnection may be formed.

Embodiment 4

This embodiment is similar to the embodiment 3, but the steps of forming a resistor pattern on a device isolation layer are described.

Referring to FIG. 26, a device isolation layer 11 is formed at a substrate 10. Although the device isolation layer 11 is a trench-type device isolation layer in this embodiment, it may be a LOCOS-type device isolation layer. In this case, a trench-type device isolation layer 11 d is formed substantially throughout a resist region.

Referring to FIG. 27, gate insulating layers 13 and 15 each having a defined thickness are formed in each region of the substrate 10 where the device isolation layer 11 is formed. That is, the thick gate insulating layer 13 is formed in a peripheral high-voltage region and a thin gate insulating layer 15 is formed in a peripheral low-voltage region. A gate insulating layer is not formed in a resist region where the device isolation layer 11 d is formed.

Referring to FIG. 28, a first polysilicon layer 17 is formed on a substrate 10 where the gate insulating layer 13 and 15 are formed. A patterning process is then performed to remove the first polysilicon layer 17 and the gate insulating layer 15 in a cell array region. the etch mask used in the patterning process is removed. An ONO triple layer 19 and a second polysilicon layer 21 are formed over substantially the entire surface of the substrate 10. A photoresistor pattern 115 is formed to cover the second polysilicon layer in the cell array region.

Referring to FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, the second polysilicon layer 21 is etched. A photoresistor pattern used as the etch mask is removed. A metal silicide layer 23 is stacked over substantially the entire surface of the substrate. Accordingly, in later-formed peripheral high-and low-voltage-type gate patterns, a metal silicide layer is disposed on a first polysilicon layer.

Referring to FIG. 30 through FIG. 32, the same process steps as FIG. 23 through FIG. 25 of embodiment 3 are performed. However, overetch must be prevented in the step of forming a resistor pattern 604 because the device isolation layer 11 d, not a thick gate insulating layer, is formed under the first polysilicon layer 17 d.

Embodiment 5

Although this embodiment is similar to embodiment 3, differences therebetween are that a triple layer and a second polysilicon layer are stacked and are removed in a resist region, and a metal silicide layer must be removed in all regions of a resistor pattern because the triple layer does not exist in the resistor pattern.

The same process steps as described in FIG. 2 through FIG. 4 of embodiment 1 are carried out. Then, referring to FIG. 33, an ONO triple layer 19 is formed on a substrate 10 of a cell array region and on first polysilicon layers 17 of the other regions by thermal oxidation and CVD manners. A second polysilicon layer 21 is formed on the ONO triple layer 19. An etch mask pattern 117 is formed over the substrate to cover the cell array region.

Referring to FIG. 34, the second polysilicon layer 21 and the triple layer 19 are removed by etching. The etch mask pattern 117 is removed. A metal silicide layer 28 is stacked over substantially the entire surface of the substrate, so that the metal silicide layer 23 is disposed on the first polysilicon layer 17 in the resist region and peripheral high- and low-voltage regions.

Referring to FIG. 35, the entire surface of the substrate is patterned to form gate patterns 305, 405, and 505 and a resistor pattern 605 in respective regions. An insulating spacer 33 is formed on sidewalls of the gate patterns 305, 405, and 505 and on a sidewall of the resistor pattern 605.

Referring to FIG. 35 and FIG. 36, a photoresistor pattern (not shown) is formed for exposing an overall region where the resistor pattern 605 is formed. An exposed metal silicide layer 23 d is etched to expose a first polysilicon layer 17 d in a contact region 61 and a line region 63 of the resistor pattern. A photoresistor pattern (not shown) is removed.

Referring to FIG. 37, an interlayer insulating layer 355 is stacked over substantially the entire surface of the substrate. The interlayer insulating layer 355 is patterned to form a contact hole exposing a contact region that is a part of each gate pattern or the resistor pattern. A conductive layer is stacked to fill the contact hole. A CMP process is performed to expose a top surface of the interlayer insulating layer 355. That is, only contact plugs 37 a, 37 b, 37 c, and 37 d made of conductor remain. Alternatively, without the CMP process, the conductive layer is patterned to form an upper interconnection coupled to a contact plug.

Embodiment 6

Although this embodiment is similar to embodiment 4, differences therebetween are that a triple layer and a second polysilicon layer is stacked and removed in a resist region, and a metal silicide layer must be removed in all regions of a resistor pattern because the triple layer does not exist in the resistor pattern.

Referring to FIG. 38, a device isolation layer 38 is formed at a substrate 10. Although the device isolation layer 38 is a trench-type device isolation layer, it may be a LOCOS-type device isolation layer. In this case, a trench-type device isolation layer 11 d is formed throughout the resist region.

Referring to FIG. 39, gate insulating layers 13 and 15 each having a necessary thickness are formed in each region of a substrate where the device isolation layer 11 is formed. That is, a thick gate insulating layer 13 is formed in a peripheral high-voltage-type device region and a thin gate insulating layer 15 is formed in a peripheral low-voltage-type device region. The gate insulating layer is not formed in the resist region where a device isolation layer 11 d is formed.

Referring to FIG. 39 and FIG. 40, a first polysilicon layer 17 is formed on the substrate 10 where the device isolation layer 11 and the gate insulating layers 13 and 15 are formed. A patterning process is performed to remove a first polysilicon layer 17 and a gate insulating layer 15 in a cell array region. The etch mask used in the patterning process is then removed.

Referring to FIG. 41, an ONO triple layer 19 and a second polysilicon layer 21 are stacked on a substrate 10 of FIG. 40. An etch mask pattern (not shown) is formed to cover the cell array region. An etch process is then performed to remove the second polysilicon layer 21 and the triple layer 19 on a substrate in locations other than the cell array region. The etch mask pattern is removed. A metal silicide layer 23 is stacked over substantially the entire surface of the substrate, so that the metal silicide layer 23 is disposed on the first polysilicon layer 17 in the peripheral high-and low-voltage-type device region.

Referring to FIG. 42 through FIG. 44, it will be understood that process steps similar to the process steps of FIG. 35 through FIG. 37 of embodiment 5 are performed for the substrate 10 of FIG. 41. However, because a gate insulating layer does not exist when a resistor pattern 606 is formed in the resist region, it is not patterned. Preferably, overetching of device isolation layer 11 d is suppressed during formation of the resistor pattern.

FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane of the resistor pattern 606 of FIG. 44. In the resistor pattern 606, only a first polysilicon layer 17 d is formed in both contact and line regions 61 and 63 where a contact plug 37 d is formed.

Embodiment 7

This embodiment describes an example of fabricating a non-volatile semiconductor device without a triple layer and a butting contact in gate patterns of peripheral high- and low-voltage devices in a self-aligned manner.

Referring to FIG. 46, a thick gate insulating layer 13 for forming a high-voltage type transistor and a thin gate insulating layer 15 for forming a low-voltage type transistor are formed on a substrate 10.

Referring to FIG. 46 and FIG. 47, a first polysilicon layer 17 is formed over substantially the entire surface of the substrate 10 where the thick gate insulating layer 13 and the thin gate insulating layer 15 are formed. For a patterning process, an etch mask pattern (not shown) is formed on the first polysilicon layer 17 to expose a cell array region. An etch process is then performed to remove the first polysilicon layer 17 and the thin gate insulating layer 15.

Referring to FIG. 48, an ONO triple layer 19 is formed on a substrate of the cell array region and on the first polysilicon layer 17 of the other regions. A second polysilicon layer 21 is formed on the ONO triple layer 19.

Referring to FIG. 49, an etch mask pattern 115 for covering the cell array region and the resist region is formed on a substrate 10 where the second polysilicon layer 21 is formed. An etch process is performed to remove the second polysilicon layer 21 and the triple layer 19 in the peripheral high-and low-voltage-type device region.

Referring to FIG. 50, the etch mask pattern 115 is removed. A trench etch mask 113 is formed, and a trench type device isolation layer 111 is formed. An isotropical etch technique is then used to remove the trench etch mask 113.

Referring to FIG. 51, a third polysilicon layer and a metal silicide layer are formed over the trench-type device isolation layer 111. The substrate 10 is patterned to form gate patterns 307, 407, and 507 and a resistor pattern 607 in respective regions. Insulating spacers 33 are formed on sidewalls of all the patterns 307, 407, 507, and 607.

Referring to FIG. 51 and FIG. 52, an etch mask pattern (not shown) exposing the contact region of the resistor pattern 607 is formed over a substrate 10 where the gate patterns 307, 407, and 507 and the resistor pattern 607 are formed. A metal silicide layer 23 d, a third polysilicon layer 21 d, a third polysilicon layer 31 d, a second polysilicon layer 21 d, and a triple layer 19 d are sequentially etched to expose the first polysilicon layer 17 d.

Referring to FIG. 53, an interlayer insulating layer 357 is formed over substantially the entire surface of the substrate 10 of FIG. 52. The interlayer insulating layer 357 is patterned to form a contact hole exposing a part of the gate patterns 307, 407, and 507 and the contact region 61 of the resistor pattern 607. A conductive layer is stacked to fill a contact hole. A CMP technique is used to remove the conductive layer except the contact plugs 37 a, 37 b, 37 c, and 37 d.

In a subsequent process, an upper interconnection may be formed over an interlayer insulating layer where the contact plug is formed.

Embodiment 8

Although this embodiment is similar to embodiment 7, differences therebetween are that an etch mask pattern covers only a cell array region during the step of removing a second polysilicon layer and a triple layer, so that the triple layer does not exist between resistor pattern layers of a resist region.

The same process steps as described in FIG. 46 through FIG. 48 of embodiment 7 are performed.

Referring to FIG. 54, an etch mask pattern 115 is formed to cover the cell array region of FIG. 48. A second polysilicon layer 21 and a triple layer 19 are etched. In all regions except for the cell array region, a first polysilicon layer 17 is stacked on gate insulating layers 13 and 15.

Referring to FIG. 54 and FIG. 55, following removal of an etch mask pattern 115, a trench etch mask pattern 115 is formed over a substrate 10. A trench-type device isolation layer 111 is formed.

Referring to FIG. 56, a wet etch technique is used to remove the etch mask pattern 115. A third polysilicon layer and a metal silicide layer are further stacked on the trench-type device isolation layer 111. A patterning process is performed to form gate patterns 308, 408, and 508 and a resistor pattern 608 in peripheral high-and low-voltage-type device region and a resist region.

Referring to FIG. 56 and FIG. 57, an insulating spacer 33 is formed on each pattern sidewall. An etch mask (not shown) is formed over the substrate where a pattern is formed, exposing contact 61 and line regions 63 of the resistor pattern 608 and removing the metal silicide layer 23 d that is the uppermost layer of the resistor pattern 308. In the resistor pattern 608, a third polysilicon layer 31 d and a first polysilicon layer 17 d remain as a resist layer that is isolated from the substrate 10 by a thick gate insulating layer 13 d.

Referring to FIG. 58, an interlayer insulating layer 358 is formed over substantially the entire surface of the substrate 10 of FIG. 57. The interlayer insulating layer 358 is patterned to form a contact hole exposing gate pattern parts 31, 41, and 51 and a contact region 61 of a resistor pattern. A conductive layer is stacked, and a CMP technique is used to form contact plugs 37 a, 37 b, 37 c, and 37 d.

Embodiment 9

Although this embodiment is similar to embodiment 8, differences therebetween are that in a step of forming a trench type device isolation layer, one device isolation layer is formed, and then a resistor pattern is formed of only a third polysilicon layer.

The same process steps as described in FIG. 46 through FIG. 48 of embodiment 7 are performed. Thereafter, the same process step as described in FIG. 54 of embodiment 8 is performed.

Referring to FIG. 59, a trench etch mask 113 is formed over a substrate 10. After a series of etch processes, an insulating layer is stacked by a CVD technique and is planarized by a CMP technique to form a trench-type device isolation layer 111. In a resist region, a wide trench-type device isolation layer 111 d is formed to remove layers 13 and 15.

Referring to FIG. 60, a third polysilicon layer and a metal silicide layer are formed over substantially the entire surface of the substrate where the trench type device isolation layer 111 is formed. By a patterning process, gate patterns 309, 409, and 509 and a resistor pattern 609 are formed. The resistor pattern 609 is formed on a device isolation layer 111 d, and is composed of a third polysilicon layer 31 d and a metal silicide layer 23 d. An insulating layer pattern 33 is formed on a pattern sidewall.

Referring to FIG. 60 and FIG. 61, an etch mask pattern (not shown) is formed to expose contact and line regions 61 and 63 of the resistor pattern 609. An etch process is performed to remove the metal silicide layer 23 d of the resistor pattern 609.

Referring to FIG. 62, an interlayer insulating layer 359 is formed on an entire surface of a substrate 10 under the state of FIG. 61. The interlayer insulating layer 359 is patterned to form a contact hole exposing gate pattern parts 31, 41, and 51 and the contact region 61 of a resistor pattern. A conductive layer is stacked, and then planarized by a CMP technique, to form contact plugs 37 a, 37 b, 37 c, and 37 d.

According to the present invention, after forming an ONO triple layer in a cell array region, a second polysilicon layer is directly stacked to minimize damage in a subsequent process. Therefore, layers constituting the triple layer are used as a tunneling insulating layer, a charge storage layer, and a blocking insulating layer with a high reliability. Further, in a resist region, a polysilicon layer of the ONO layer is used as a resist layer to simplify process steps. 

1. A method comprising: forming a device isolation layer in a substrate to define a low voltage region, a high voltage region, and a cell array region therein; forming a first gate insulating layer on the substrate in the low voltage region; forming a second gate insulating layer on the substrate in the high voltage region; forming a first conductive layer overlying the low voltage region and the high voltage region; forming a triple layer on the first conductive layer and on the substrate in the cell array region, the triple layer including a tunneling insulating layer, a charge storage layer, and a blocking insulating layer; and forming a second conductive layer on the triple layer.
 2. The method of claim 1, flurther comprising: forming the first gate insulating layer and the first conductive layer in the cell array region; and removing the first conductive layer in the cell array region, thereby exposing the substrate in the cell array region.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second gate insulating layer is thicker than the first gate insulating layer.
 4. A method comprising: forming a device isolation layer in a substrate to define a high voltage region, a low voltage region, and a cell array region therein; forming a first gate insulating layer on the substrate in the low voltage region; forming a second gate insulating layer on the substrate in the high voltage region; forming a first conductive layer on the first gate insulating layer and the second gate insulating layer; forming a triple layer on the first conductive layer and the substrate in the cell array region, the triple layer including a tunneling insulation layer, a charge storage layer, and a blocking insulation layer; forming a second conductive layer on the triple layer; patterning the second conductive layer, the triple layer, the first conductive layer, the first gate insulating layer, and the second gate insulating layer to form a second gate pattern in the high voltage region, a first gate pattern in the low voltage region; patterning the second conductive layer, the triple layer to form a cell gate pattern in the cell array region; removing portions of the second conductive layer and the triple layer from the second gate pattern and from the first gate pattern to form butting regions that expose portions of the first conductive layer; forming an interlayer insulating layer overlying the resulting structure; patterning the interlayer insulating layer to form contact holes that expose portions of the butting regions; and filling the contact holes with contact plugs.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: forming the first gate insulating layer and the first conductive layer in the cell array region, and removing the first conductive layer in the cell array region, thereby exposing the substrate in the cell array region.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the substrate further includes a resistor region, the method further comprising: forming the second gate insulating layer, the first conductive layer, the triple layer, and the second conductive layer on the resistor region; patterning the second conductive layer, the triple layer, the first conductive layer, and the second gate insulating layer, thereby forming a resistor pattern in the resistor region; removing the second conductive layer and the triple layer from the resistor pattern; forming the interlayer insulating layer on the resistor pattern; and forming a contact hole exposing a portion of the first conductive layer by patterning the interlayer insulating layer.
 7. The method of claim 4, further comprising forming insulating spacers on sidewalls of the second gate patterns, the first gate patterns, and the cell gate patterns.
 8. The method of claim 4, wherein forming the second conductive layer comprises stacking a conductive silicon layer and a conductive metal layer.
 9. The method of claim 4, wherein the second gate insulating layer is thicker than the first gate insulating layer.
 10. A method comprising: providing a substrate that includes a low voltage region, a high voltage region, and a cell array region; forming a first gate insulating layer in the low voltage region; forming a second gate insulating layer in the high voltage region; forming a first conductive layer on the first gate insulating layer and the second gate insulating layer; forming a triple layer on the first conductive layer and on the cell array region, the triple layer including a tunneling insulating layer, a charge storage layer, and a blocking insulating layer; forming a second conductive layer over the triple layer; forming a trench type device isolation layer in the substrate to isolate the low voltage region, the high voltage region, and the cell array region from each other; forming a high conductivity layer over the substrate; patterning the high conductivity layer, the second conductive layer, the triple layer, the second gate insulating layer, and the first gate insulating layer to form a second gate pattern in the high voltage region and a first gate pattern in the low voltage region; patterning the high conductivity layer, the second conductive layer, and the triple layer to form a cell gate pattern in the cell array region; removing portions of the high conductivity layer, the second conductive layer, and the triple layer from the second gate pattern and the first gate pattern to form a butting region that exposes the first conductive layer; forming an interlayer insulating layer over the substrate; patterning the interlayer insulating layer to form contact holes that expose portions of the butting regions; and filling the contact holes with contact plugs.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: forming the first gate insulating layer and the first conductive layer in the cell array region; and removing the first conductive layer in the cell array region, thereby exposing the substrate in the cell array region.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the substrate further includes a resistor region, the method further comprising: forming the second gate insulating layer, the first conductive layer, the triple layer, the second conductive layer, and the high-conductivity layer in the resistor region, patterning the high-conductivitv layer, the second conductive layer, the triple layer, the first conductive layer, and the second gate insulating layer, thereby forming a resistor pattern in the resistor region; removing the high-conductivity layer, the second conductive layer, and the triple layer from the resistor pattern; forming an interlayer insulating layer over the resistor pattern; and forming a contact hole in the interlayer insulating layer to extend over only the resistor pattern.
 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising fonning insulating spacers on sidewalls of first gate pattern, the second gate pattern, and the cefl gate pattern.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein forming the high conductivity layer comprises sequentially stacking a conductive silicon layer and a conductive metal layer.
 15. A method comprising: forming a device isolation layer on a substrate to define a low voltage region, a high voltage region, and a cell array region; forming a first gate insulating layer on the substrate in the low voltage region; forming a second gate insulating layer on the substrate in the high voltage region; forming a first conductive layer over the first gate insulating layer in the low voltage region and the second gate insulating layer in the high voltage region; forming a triple layer on the substrate of the cell array region and on the first conductive layer, the triple layer including a tunneling insulation layer, a charge storage layer, and a blocking insulation layer; forming a second conductive layer on the triple layer; removing the second conductive layer and the triple layer from the low voltage region and the high voltage region; forming a high conductivity layer on the first conductive layer in the low voltage region and in the high voltage region, and on the second conductive layer in the cell array region; patterning the high conductivity layer, the first conductive layer, the first gate insulation layer, and the second gate insulation layer to form a first gate pattern in the low voltage region and a second gate pattern in the high voltage region; and patterning the high conductivity layer, the second conductive layer, and the triple layer to form a cell gate pattern in the cell array region.
 16. The method of claim 15, flurther comprising: forming the first gate insulating layer and the first conductive layer in the cell array region; and removing the first conductive layer in the cell array region, thereby exposing the substrate in the cell array region.
 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: forming an interlayer insulating layer over the cell gate pattern, the first gate pattern, and the second gate pattern; patterning the interlayer insulating layer to form contact holes that expose a portion of the high conductivity layer in each of the cell gate pattern, the first gate pattern, and the second gate pattern; and filling the contact holes with contact plugs.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the substrate further includes a resistor region, the method further comprising: forming the second gate insulating layer, the first conductive layer, the triple layer, the second conductive layer, and the high-conductivity layer in the resistor region; patterning the high-conductivity layer, the second conductive layer, the triple layer, the first conductive layer, and the second gate insulating layer, thereby forming a resistor pattern in the resistor region; removing the high conductivity layer, the second conductive layer, and the triple layer from the resistor pattern to expose the first conductive layer of the resistor pattern; forming the interlayer insulating layer over the first conductive layer of the resistor pattern; and forming a contact hole through the interlayer insulating layer that extends only over the resistor pattern.
 19. A method comprising: providing a substrate that includes a low voltage region, a high voltage region, and a cell array region; forming a first gate insulating layer in the low voltage region; forming a second gate insulating layer in the high voltage region; forming a first conductive layer on the first gate insulating layer and second gate insulating layer; forming a triple layer on the substrate of the cell array region and on the first conductive layer, the triple layer including a tunneling insulating layer, a charge storage layer, and a blocking insulating layer; forming a second conductive layer on the triple layer; removing the second conductive layer and the triple layer from the low voltage region and the high voltage region; forming a trench type device isolation layer to isolate the low voltage region, the high voltage region, and the cell array region from each other; forming a high conductivity layer over the substrate; patterning the high conductivity layer, the second conductive layer, and the triple layer to form a cell gate pattern in the cell array region, patterning the high conductivity layer, the first conductive layer, the first gate insulating layer, and the second insulating layer to form a first gate pattern in the low voltage region, and to form a second gate pattern in the high voltage region; forming an interlayer insulating layer over the substrate; patterning the interlayer insulating layer to form contact holes that expose a portion of the high conductivity layer of each of the cell gate pattern, the first gate pattern, and the second gate pattern; and filling the contact holes with contact plugs.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: forming the first gate insulating layer and the first conductive layer in the cell array region; and removing the first conductive layer in the cell array region, thereby exposing the substrate in the cell array region.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the substrate further includes a resistor region, the method further comprising: forming the second gate insulating layer in the resistor region; forming the second gate insulating layer, the first conductive layer, the triple layer, the second conductive layer, and the high-conductivity layer in the resistor region; patterning the high-conductivitv layer, the second conductive layer, the triple layer, the first conductive layer and the second sate insulating layer, thereby forming a resistor pattern in the resistor region; removing the high conductivity layer, the second conductive layer, and the triple layer from the resistor pattern to expose the first conductive layer of the resistor pattern; forming the interlayer insulating layer over the first conductive layer of the resistor pattern; and forming a contact hole that exposes only the resistor pattern.
 22. The method of claim 19, further comprising forming insulating spacers on sidewalls of the cell gate pattern, the first gale pattern, and the second gate pattern.
 23. The method of claim 19, wherein forming the high conductivity layer comprises sequentially stacking a conductive silicon layer and a conductive metal layer. 